Miami Marlins' pitchers: Pablo Lopez trade interest, Max Meyer will have Tommy John surgery

Unable to make up significant ground against the “soft spot” of their schedule, the Miami Marlins find themselves now fielding calls for some of their better players as Tuesday’s MLB Trade Deadline approaches.

To be clear, “selling” isn’t where the organization expected to be entering the season. They were hoping to be buyers.

But now, days away from the deadline, the front office is weighing all options.

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What to expect on the trade front tops The Palm Beach Post’s five Marlins’ takeaways:

Plenty of interest in Pablo Lopez

If Pablo Lopez’s 2-1 win on Tuesday at the Cincinnati Reds was his last appearance with the Marlins, the 26-year-old is going out in style. Lopez dominated, allowing one run in seven innings with 11 strikeouts.

Lopez also is a pitcher attracting plenty of trade interest. At least 10 scouts were at his start in Cincinnati, including the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.

According to industry sources, there’s a belief the Marlins will get plenty of tempting offers for their No. 2 starter.

Keeping this in mind, trading Lopez isn’t a given because he’s affordable and not eligible for free agency until 2025. Add in the fact he’s making $2.45 million, and the right-hander is one of the biggest bargains in the game.

From the Marlins’ perspective, Lopez’s value will never be higher. The right-hander has a 7-5 record, and 3.03 ERA, and he’s logged a career-high 116 innings. In the past, he’s dealt with right shoulder issues, and his previous innings high was 111 1/3 in 2019.

So why move one of the most affordable and best starters on the market?

First, Lopez is the caliber of pitcher that would bring in a significant haul. The Marlins are exploring the center field market, but have other needs.

The Marlins also have left-hander Jesus Luzardo and right-hander Edward Cabrera close to returning from the injured list. Starting pitching depth is an organizational strength, which makes Lopez a logical candidate to be dealt.

Tommy John surgery for Max Meyer

When Max Meyer abruptly exited his July 23 start at the Pittsburgh Pirates after 10 pitches, you knew surgery was a possibility.

On Thursday, the Marlins confirmed the 23-year-old would be undergoing Tommy John surgery after an MRI detected a UCL tear. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery, which usually requires about 14-18 months of recovery.

It’s tough news for Meyer, the touted right-hander who was hurt in his second MLB start. Meyer threw six innings and a total of 89 pitches at the big-league level this year, after posting a 3-4 record and 3.69 ERA in 61 innings at Triple-A Jacksonville.

The third overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Meyer always has been an intriguing prospect because many in the industry have been divided on whether he fit a starter or closer profile.

The Marlins have developed him as a starter. In May, he was on the Minor League injured list due to ulnar nerve irritation.

Strong first impression for JJ Bleday

The anticipated MLB debut of JJ Bleday has been a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating stretch for the Marlins.

The fourth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Bleday was tracking toward being big league ready at Triple-A Jacksonville. His arrival was expected some time in the second half, and that date moved up when outfielder Jorge Soler went on the injured list with low-back spasms on July 23.

It worked out well for Bleday because he debuted against his favorite team growing up. A native of Danville, Pa., Bleday was a Pittsburgh Pirates fans as a child, and his family was on hand for his first big league series.

Bleday hit his first big-league homer on Wednesday in a 5-3 loss at the Cincinnati Reds. Already, he’s checking off many “first” boxes.

What should Marlins’ fans expect from the former Vanderbilt standout? Bleday is a left-handed hitter with power potential. He has a good approach and is well prepared. In his development, he’s spent considerable time refining his swing.

He has the makings of being a solid big-league regular.

Lewin Diaz at last gets called up

You often hear about prospects being rushed to the big leagues. This has not been the case for Lewin Diaz.

The 25-year-old has been blocked at first base since 2020 because the Marlins have been going with Jesus Agular and Garrett Cooper, two right-handed hitting veterans. But Cooper is on the 10-day injured list with a bruised right wrist, creating an opportunity for the left-handed hitting Diaz.

Diaz has played in 614 Minor League games, and he has 2,540 plate appearances. A left-handed thrower, Diaz also is the best defensive fielding first baseman in the system.

The question now is whether the Marlins stick with Diaz once Cooper is eligible to come off the injured list. There’s also a possibility either Cooper or Aguilar could be traded by Tuesday, creating a full-time opening for Diaz.

Second-rounder Jacob Miller signs

In the second round of the MLB Draft this year, the Marlins selected right-hander Jacob Miller from Liberty Union (Ohio) High School. Miller opted for pro ball over attending the University of Louisville, and now he’s signed with Miami.

“This has been my dream since I picked up a ball,” Miller said. “I looked at college baseball growing up, and I thought it was cool. But my goal was never to play college baseball. It was to be professional and start my big-league journey. I feel like this is a really good option.”

Adding Miller to the system provides the organization with another potential high-end starting pitcher, which is crucial because the Marlins are considering trading some of their starter depth.

The day he was drafted was an emotional one for Miller, who invited his best friend, and high school catcher, Austin Ety, to the event at Dodger Stadium as part of All-Star week.

“It was very cool. We’ve grown up since preschool, playing the game with each other,” Miller said. “He’s been on the journey with me the entire time. I was just sitting in my room one day, and I thought, I want to take him with me.”

Joe Frisaro covered the Marlins from 2002 to 2020 for mlb.com. He is the founder of ManOn2nd Baseball. Follow him @ManOn2nd and his podcast on the Five Reasons Sports YouTube Channel.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Marlins' Max Meyer to have Tommy John surgery, Pablo Lopez faces trade